Saturday, December 31, 2011

The wonderful dog quilt above was done in a Ruth McDowell class by Mel McFarland-five of us went to Kalispell Montana and took her class-Mel just finished this and I think it is wonderful! Spike is the dog's name.The quilt above is by Mary Linfesty- she belonged to my swap group on Yahoogroups and we did BEES that time and she took the bees and mixed it up with darling flowers and a beed skep-all done Hoochy Mama method-she is a pro!The quilt above is my feather tree with many birds and one sneaky cat! I love the cheddar background- it has long been mny favorite for backgrounds because it can be the compliment to many things...wonderful color!Who doesn't love anything that Maxine says? I think she is so funny!One year I took a teaching cruise to Mexico and Jamaica and Balize. I did this wool wallhanging of a bird and a pineapple and hung little doodads from Guatamola on it-I love it and don't think the camera caught the great color and effect.This is a painting photo that someone sent me. Also this guy had this drawing he was doing and I kept it from a letter someone sent. I would love to try this but it might be tiring and what do you do with the drawing once it is done?I thought it was wonderful but don't know whose it is. It has been in my files for awhile. I am erasing alot of "stuff" and want to share it before it is gone.My cousin who does beadwork and some scrap booking too sent me the photo above and below. That is about as much as I know but like both of them, don't you?I think the color and design in the painting here is wonderful....one of the thousands of things in my files....18.000 photos....I am trying to delete some of them so my computer doesn't crash. I can't help it, I love inspiration and design from talented people. Don't you. And how do you like the "UP" house? I have no idea what this is all about but I do know the movie "Up" thanks to my Grandkids and this part is obvious!As many of you know, my five year old Granddaughter has adored bugs for three years...she just never gets over how much she loves bugs! My friend Laura who is the sister of Chrlotte (amny of you know them from Asilomar and also Florida) thought that it would be a nice gesture to make pillow cases out of this bug fabric. It is the cutest pillowcases I have ever seen and naturally this is what my Granddaughter wants to sleep on every night.....can you blame her?

Monday, December 26, 2011

Saturday, December 24, 2011

I wish you the blessings of the day of Christmas and each day after that.I appreciate your kind friendship and support of this blog and my other places I share. May you be deeply blessed and be a blessing in return.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Linda Milligan December 20, 2010 at 2:25pm Maja ToffeeHere it is Mary Lou,It's called Maja Toffee-I'm not sure why.2 cubes butter (I Use Land of Lakes slightly salted and then I don't add the pinch of salt)NOTE- a pound of butter comes in FOUR cubes in a package-this is what a cube means1 cup sugar1 tbsp Karo syrup1 tbsp hot waterpinch of salt

Melt and stir (constantly) these ingredients together in a heavy pan. I use a wooden spoon, but I'm not sure if that is necessary or just me and my superstition. You also need to hold your tongue just right. ; )

Keep stirring until the mixture boils and starts to turn the color of brown sugar.(If the phone rings or someone wants you to do something for them do not answer them until you add the Hershey Bars--see below.) Take off heat and add 1 cup of diced almonds and stir quickly to mix. Dump mixture on cookie sheet that has been treated with Pam.

Spread as thin as possible. Lay 5 Hershey Bars on the top and spred as they melt. Sprinkle some more diced almonds on top or pulse some in a food processor to make finer crumbs. Let cool--usually overnight to allow the chocolate to harden correctly. Break into small pieces and enjoy!

Also, just so you know--if you give boxes of this away, you will be expected to every year for the rest of your life. ; )

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

-----------------------------So I have a friend named Sue Cresse who has a million and one ways to be creative and this is a mirror she made. It is so beautiful in person! Sue can take an idea and always make it tons better. Do you know someone like her? She bought a simple mirror at Home Goods and then transformed it into this with the help of a glue gun. She said it is so heavy, you can hardly lift it to get it on the wall and they had to a real system in place to hold it. So cool!I got his link from someone and I have spent hours goofing around with it and thinking about quilts made with some of the things I cut out....it is so much fun. It takes a little practice but is well worth it!http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/

Monday, December 12, 2011

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Above are photos I took in Switzerland of candy...lovely chocolate candy.------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, today my husband stopped at the grocery store for milk on the way home from work.

As he was standing in line, he heard the clerk at another counter trying to tell some man he owed her more money.

My husband got out of line because clearly her noticed the man had some mental issues.

The man had put down a can of spam,something else and some loose tea bags from bulk and he gave her 75 cents.

She was trying to explain that he had to give her more money and he wasn't getting it.

So while everyone else stood there,

Mark took nine dollars out of his pocket and gave it to her.

My husband said it was all the cash he had on him and he thinks that it was still 75 cents short. He said he thinks the cashier gave him the extra 75 cents after she saw the nine dollars there.

The man came over and shook my husband's hand and thanked him and Mark said he obviously had no money, was dressed poorly and had problems.

He came home happy.

My husband said it made HIS day to help someone like that.

It is so cold outdoors and I feel badly for anyone who is walking with no car and maybe no home. I am counting my blessings today as I cut up some really pretty Timeless Treasures fabric....how about you?

Sunday, December 11, 2011

You know, I saw this photo and I thought of how some people don't "get" story quilts and whimsy and it made me laugh.

When I was at Market, we were holding up a cow quilt in front of a group of gals and showing a pile of the different ones and everyone was smiling and commenting and a woman walked up and caught my eye and had a huge frown on her face and she looked sternly at the cow quilt and then back at me and she shook her head from side to side. And then walked away.

Someone there asked me (later) if that hurt my feelings.

I said "first of all she doesn't "get it" and second of all I would not want to go to lunch with her." Here is the thing.

If you see a quilt or a piece of art, would you stand there and there and be rude and try to get that person to look at you so you could be hurtful or mean? If you would, then there is something deeply wrong.

Art is subjective and that is why some people love Rembrant and some people love Andy Wathol and some people love Grandma Moses. There is room for everything and honestly here is the other thing.

Story quilts have a point and you have to be willing to "think" about the piece just like they teach you in art school.

Your painting should have some kind of point (like the beauty) which could be something the person is doing, a person's gaze across the surface and you are carried across to see what THEY are looking at, a theme (did they carry it?), color etc.

I understand that if a person is deep into traditional quilts which I happen to LOVE and always have, then maybe they don't "get" the point of something that has the theme that one tries to carry across but honestly, why give someone a dirty look, shake your head or call me a "Mary Loonie?"

I got alot of mileage off of that even though it was meant to cut like a knife.

Eleanor Peace Bailey recited a poem once in Switzerland when I was there. I thought it would be boring (I am dumb sometimes I know) and it was fabulous.

The idea of the poem is that people judge you because you use bright crazy colors or do something that they deem weird when in effect God loves what you do because you are continuing His creativity.

And to that point

I remember a guy in church that used to beg to do solos and he was a terrible singer.

I commented on it to someone who was far wiser than I and they said "you hear a person who cannot sing but God hears the most beautiful volice ever because Paul sings it to please God and others.

She was right, he was the sweetest man and he was totally sincere.

As long as you are happy with your work and you work hard then it is the least others can do to be polite because maybe they don't know what you know.Comments??

Thursday, December 08, 2011

-------------------------------------------------------------------------The cartoon above is from Kristi my girl cousin and her brother sent the joke below...they are both alot of fun, can't you tell?-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would like to share with you all an experience that I recently had regarding drinking and driving.As you would know, most of us have had brushes with the law on our way home before.Well I for one have done something about it.....the other night I was out for dinner and a few drinks with some friends, having had a few too many, and knowing full well I was struggling,I did something I've never done before. I took a bus home. I arrived home safely and without incident, which was a real surprise as I have never driven a bus before.=

Monday, December 05, 2011

I am really excited to be able to share this photo of the quilt called "Coffee Cake Day." Mary who has become a lovely friend made this quilt about making loads of those beautiful yeast dough stollen style coffee cakes on December 11th for friends and family.

I first met Mary in beautiful West Virginia at the Cedar Lakes story quilt class. If you live anywhere close to West Virginia, please consider coming in April to join us while we make creative and fun memory quilts about our lives.

The State owned park is gorgeous with a super room with alot of light and the rooms are nice to stay in and it is just honestly a little like "heaven" as the song about West Virginia goes.

Then Mary came along to my Madeline Island workshop to continue and begin a new quilt. Mary's artist comes out and does fabulous things but somehow she forgot she said in between the two classes how to keep her inner artist outside. :0)Then she really went all out and made loads of wonderful things.

Look at the detail of this quilt and you will see the names of people that help and that they give to and other fun things. I can't wait to see her next project. Mary is a fun, talented and great person. Hope she shows up again at one of the story quilt workshops along the way. It is a delight to have fun and nice people take these workshops that tell a story about who you love and what you love.

By the way, Two wacky women are hosting a story quilt class with me next summer AUG. 9th through the 13th at a wonderful hotel with great food and classroom in Palm Desert,California. We would love to get those numbers up and if you have seen the story quilts of mine at Roxanne's or anywhere you know I am doing all kinds of new things. Please consider coming and enjoying this wonderful class. And "yes" it is air conditioned. I plan to going to Monica's quilt shop which I hear so much about too and hope you will go with me for fun!

This second quilt is quite wonderful to me because first it is by my friend Lynne Pennington from Texas who is so much fun and who I have known a long time from many many workshops and you can see her work in the Out of the Box book. She did her husband on a tractor with a martini and all kinds of things in the yard around him. It is wonderful.

But we got her involved in the cow parade and this was what she came up with which I love because it is the perfect quilt to hang this time of year. I am not sure of the name but think it might be another Mooey Christmas quilt.

If you want to do your own cow with a cow, veal, dairy, Moo, heifer theme the easy pattern is in the Out of the Box with Easy Blocks book. It takes less than a day to do the cow and then you get to do all of the fun stuff to go along with your theme. It is the perfect "bee" challenge for any group! We will have seven of these quilts at Road to California in January and then more at the Minnesota Quilters show in June. I know Mary and Lynne would love comments and I am going to surprise some nice girls who comment here and also commented in the past- stay tuned for a nice December give away to a nice group of friends.

Making a COW can be the ultimate creativity lesson for you! ASK the 30 people we know who have made them. The pattern is in the Out of the Box with Easy Blocks book by Mary Lou Weidman and Mel McFarland. Mooey Christmas was one of the themes you might want to try too!

The large variety of my quilts and other people's quilts on the red were designed by Bonnie for a card showing when I was at Roxanne's quilt shop but it is such a delightful group of photos, I will keep showing it here and there...I love the color and the quilt images-so happy

For a Fabulous Cow look at this and then come back here please!

Ann Hart'sDarling quilt from Chicago workshop-isn't she and the quilt darling?

Chicago Pizza!

Princess Quilt for a child's door

I added photos to my website and new information too

Marylouweidman.com

Diane's (from Nebraska) row by row quilt

She wasn;'t sure she liked the cups and I LOVE the cups- such a happy quilt!

THIS WILL PUT YOU IN A WONDERFUL MOOD-OR SHOULD

http://www.youtube.com/embed/vcmfCXwAFs4
THANK YOU KATHY FROM EAGLE RIVER

MARY LOU'S RETREAT JUNE 2 (check in) through the 7th-DON'T miss Farm Chicks the day before with us

I have my retreat almost full and if you want to come, send your deposit of $300. Thank you. MISS TINA from LA cooks for us again! Post Falls Days are the same day again as ART IN THE PARK in Spokane and I have some fun surprises again in the way of fabrics and other whimsical things- email me -Marylouquilts@aol.com

This will make you smile! I am still smiling from it.....

Sue Nickels, Mary Lou, Carol Doak, Karen Kay Buckley

Candy's Full Moon Story Quilt

Want to keep this where you can see it- it makes me feel lucky-when is that full moon anyhow?

HURRY and Order this fun disk to make awesome gifts

They are going to take this off the Market-The Quilt Sale-OESD embroidery by Mary Lou

My New Mexico Story quilt-

It's huge it is embellished to the hilt-it is really HAPPY

GOD IS TOO LOVING TO BE UNKIND AND TOO WISE TO MAKE A MISTAKE

Kathy Sandling's Flower Power Quilt!

This quilt is quite wonderful and makes a great statement-I think she is really talented with the scrappiness of the colors!

My favorite actor-when he was Maverick

A James Garner Photo the girls from Tulsa, Oklahoma gave me-it's hanging in my studio now!-hope I get to meet him when I teach there :0)

Cow quilt beginning's- It took two hours to put this together-the background strata took longer

Mary Lou's "Out of the Box with Easy Piecing" Cow-order the book from Marylouweidman.com

We are "Blessed to be a blessing"

...if it is encouraging, let her encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let her give generously; if it is leadership, let her govern diligently, if it is showing mercy, let her do it cheerfully.

-----Romans 12:8

Lopez Island Morning Moon

San Juans a little bit of heaven-photo taken and sent by Laurie Latta who lives there

"WITH MONEY IN YOUR POCKET, YOU ARE WISE, YOU ARE HANDSOME AND YOU SING WELL TOO!"YIDDISH PROVERB

TOP BUNK= A place where you should never put a child wearing Superman pajamas

Click on the photo to go to this great website and win!

Win my book and look at what Rebecca is making her cow out of! Don't you need to make a cow quilt?

Great quote to think about-what kind of a friend are you?

"To the soul there is hardly anything as healing as friendship."Thomas Moore

Thought from Laurie Latta-Love it!

I don't want to brag or anything but I can still fit into my High school earrings!

A Portion of my New Mexico Story Quilt

Mary Lou and Molly in New Mexico

Mary Lou's Block of the month angel

CAROL'S QUILT FROM MY BOM ANGEL PATTERN-If I was grading, I would say this is an A= legacy quilt that will be treasured for many years to come-you can order this pattern at Marylouweidman.com

A story quilt idea....

Mary Lou and Metal Garden Man-Loved this!

Metal man close up-isn't he the cutest?

Lord, Fill my mouth with useful stuff and shut it when I've said enough!

Party Cats

I always did love these silly cats

I Love Animals in my Quilts!

Two Dogs Dining-thank you Carol! hilarious

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=EVwlMVYqMu4&vq=medium#t=125

Gretchen Jolles Makes a Quilt for Her Grandson-now she only has 8 more to go!

Gretchen took my "Plaid to Meet You" class at John C.Campbell and look what she came up with! Great job Gretcheon!

Tasuti Zoo My Favorite Fun Shop!

Girl at Tasuti Zoo's shop-it is how I feel when I shop there

LOPEZ ISLAND SUNSET

I think this predicts a fabulous New Year for anyone living on Lopez-I adore a good sunset!

Did you know God continues His creativity through you? Isn't this mind blowing and wonderful?

To hear what Mary Lou's Process Is, CLICK ON THIS

Mary Lou Draws at LL Bean for fun

Sandi's retreat Quilt well under way!

Love Nature Like I do? Look at this Live Camera of Mama Eagle and her babies

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles This changes everytime you go in and see what she is doing-so cool!

Jean Spencer shows off her darling story quilt

"hey! It's Me, E-ma!"

A Grand way to waste time-

The paint program on my PC is alot of fun to goof around with-lots of bright colors to play with! I should have been quilting

5 Ways to Make Friends, receive FREE patterns, get good recipes, laugh and be inspired-sign up

Come and join people who love whimsical quilts,block swaps, and friendship with quilters

Funny of the Day

Advice to an Old Guy...

An old guy (not in the best of shape) was working out in the gym when he spotted a sweet young thing... He asked the trainer that was

nearby, "What machine in here should I use to impress that sweet thing over there?"

The trainer looked him up and down and said "I would try the ATM in the lobby".......

Peace begins with a smile-Mother Teresa

From my new Quilters Fabrics

GRATITUDE AND UNHAPPINESS CANNOT CO-EXIST

Psalm 46:1- how nice to know this

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

Something to think about

"When you forgive, you in no way change the past -but you sure do change the future."- Bernard Meltzer

New Adventures Mary Lou's Story Quilt retreat

Click on this photo-

A Get Well Bouquet from Laurie Latta-Beautiful and Made me Feel So Good!

THINK ABOUT THIS

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.-----Proverbs 15:30 Someone is waiting for your smile or nod and a nice compliment from YOU. And you could make someone's week. You have the power of giving everyday and you can make a difference for so many people you don't even know. What do you have to lose?

When the NEWS gets you down

Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Hoochy Mama Book (Funky Fun blocks)

This is the book you want to have more styles of blocks to go along with the Out of the Box book!

Lorraine's bird looks for a friend...

Marylouquiltdesigns.com

It's so good to be together with a good quilting friend!

Mary Lou with Dot Marx who took my classes at Road to California

Mary Lou's Fabricline

Quilt by Julie our Quilt Diva

Memories put into a Quilt for a Friend Last forever (think about it)

A Story Quilt for Susan's daughter's best friend-all memories and things not to be forgotten-Susan made this quilt with the help of one of my books and inspiration from the girls memories-quite wonderful!

From My Sweet Cousin Patty-quoted by Maxine

I hate housework! You make
The beds, do the dishes and
Six months later you have to
Do it all over again!!

But the Lord's love for those who respect Him continues forever and ever and His goodness continues to their Grandchildren.

"Whosoever trusteth in the Lord, happy is he." - Proverbs 16:20

Students work at John C.Campbell-Barbara and Julie, great job!

Terry Knott shares blocks from the Flower Power Book for her friend and her friend's daughter

Mary Lou's Book -Photos!

Grandma brings the goldfish on the plane

Sandy from Jamul,CA remembers when she won a goldfish at the carnival with her two sisters and later on her Grandmother flew to visit them from the East coast with the goldfish in tow-pretty wonderful quilt I'd say

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. ~Yiddish Proverb

Flags Flying Make me Happy-I think this is beautiful

"Don't wait for people to be kind, show them how." Unknown

Flower Power sampler by Kathy

Welcome to my Garden (using Mary Lou's alphabet fabrics)

This guy made me smile

Flower Power Meets Hoochy Mama

This quilt is all ready and getting it's story-fun!

My Granddaughter's Peacock Made Me Smile

She's a Little Artist!

BEE Happy!!

I have always said "will work for fabric" since my line of fabric came out in 1995,remember?

From My Dearest Cousin Patty-

"People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there."

"Now for the story-great work!"

Wonderful flower from class

Carol wasn't sure this flower would work, can you imagine?

My angel block of the month- a winning quilt by Kathy Hutcheson of Arizona!

Psalm 12

That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Every Mother's Quote

Mary Lou and Beth sew at Asilomar

Among God's best gift to us, are the people who love us.

I'd tather quilt than clean-how about YOU?

A quilt canvas all ready for a wonderful story!

Proud and giddy too-so happy the book is a reality

SIGNING BOOKS AT QUILT MARKET

Cousin Kristi says "the irony of this!"

Chicken Soup by Karen Grabowski

My chicken pattern done well! Order pattern on my website

Isn't this a happy Hoochy Mama quilt? I Love it!

"God always connects those He wants you to connect with. We each have divine appointments with people and don't even realize it" Mary Lou

"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be MORE intelligent, read them MORE fairy tales."~ Albert Einstein

Terry's Cowgirl Cutout from Class-she's a doozy!

Tips from Cousin Kristi for in the Kitchen

AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

About Me

I love creativity, originality, color and being surrounded by all three.
Wrote Whimsies and Whynots, Everyday Angels In Extraordinary Quilts,Quilted Memories, Hoochy Mama Quilts, Flower Power and new "OUT OF THE BOX"--design fabric for Benartex (have designed fabrics for 15 years) -art background in painting and other medias,married 41 years with 3 children,lots of Grandchildren, love creating art and teaching how to be a better artist and use your inner self to create and be creative, love kindness, generosity to those less fortunate, love to laugh, make new friends and keep them, surround yourself with people and things you love-"wealth is in the heart not in the wallet" -appreciate God's many blessings